Improvement in embalming or preserving dead bodies



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

THOMAS H. WHITEHOUSE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS HIS RIGHT TO THOMAS D. GODMAN AND MICHAEL W. NYE, OF

SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN EMBALMING OR RRESERVING DEAD BODIES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 156,051, dated October 20,1874; application filed May 7,1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. WHITE- HCUSE, M. D., of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented an Improved Process of Disinfecting and Preserving Deceased Human Bodies from Putrefaction and Discoloration, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to the preservation of deceased human bodies for such purposes as may be required; and it consists in coating the body with a preservative compound, and injecting the same into the openings of the body, as the ears, nostrils, mouth, and rectum, before placing the body in the burial case.

In carrying out my invention, take of the following articles a sufficient quantity about in the proportions named, viz: Pulverized charcoal, four (4) ounces; sulphate of iron, one (1) ounce; hypermanganate of potassa, two ounces, and mix the same with pure soft or distilled water to about the ordinary consistency of cream, and spread the same over the external surface of the body. Then make the mixture somewhat thinner by the addition of pure Water, and by means of a syringe or other suitable apparatus inject this fluid into all the openings of the body, as the ears, nostrils, mouth, rectum, &c., and securely plug them up, so as to prevent the escape of the injected fluid. When the body is thus prepared it is then ready to be placed in the burial case, the bottom and sides of which are first well dusted with a preparation of powdered charcoal and sulphate of iron in about the proportion of two (2) parts of the former to one (1) part of the latter. After being placed in the case, in order to prevent discoloration, the face and hands or exposed parts are coated with a compound of the following ingredients in about the proportions named, viz: Spirits of ammonia, three (3) parts; carbolic acid, two (2) parts 5 and tincture of iodine, seven (7) parts.

The proportions of these several compounds may be somewhat varied, according to the conditions of the body.

The compounds used and the process above described serve as a disinfectant, deodorant, and antiseptic of the body.

I am aware that the compound charcoal,

sulphate of iron, and hypermanganate of potassa has been used externally upon wounds and sores of living persons to prevent gangrene or mortification; but it has never been used in the manner used by me upon the bodies of deceased persons for the purposes described.

I claim as my invention The process of preserving the bodies of deceased persons, substantially as described.

T. H. WHITEHOUSE. Witnesses:

GAS. BIFIELD, W. R. FERTIG. 

